Speculation is rife about former First Lady Melania Trump’s potential role if her husband, Donald Trump, returns to the White House in 2024. Political commentators are suggesting that Melania might not be a full-time resident at the White House, preferring instead to spend her time elsewhere.
According to an Axios report, experts on Melania, also known as “Melania-ologists,” believe it’s unlikely she would return full-time to her East Wing duties. They suggest that the former First Lady might split her time between Palm Beach, Florida and New York, where her son Barron is rumored to be starting college. Melania’s presence in the White House, they predict, could be limited to ceremonial events such as state dinners or special occasions.
“She’s distancing herself even more from her husband and the Washington social-political scene. I mean, she clearly hated being in Washington,” said Kate Anderson Brower, author of “First Women,” in an Axios interview. Mary Jordan, author of “The Art of Her Deal,” a biography on Melania Trump, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Melania does what Melania wants.”
Should Melania pursue this course, it would put her in a small group of past presidents’ wives who did not spend most of their husbands’ terms in the White House. Anna Harrison was preparing to join President William Henry Harrison in Washington before he passed away a month into his term. Similarly, Bess Truman stayed at Blair House during renovations at the White House during President Harry Truman’s administration. Unlike these circumstances, Melania Trump’s choice would underscore her preference for a life outside of Washington.
A 2018 Washington Post article revealed that the Trumps led largely separate lives in the White House, with separate schedules and bedrooms. Claims that Melania resided with her parents and Barron in a different Washington dwelling were refuted by her staff as “100% false.”
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former aide to Melania, recently voiced the opinion that Melania would never separate from her husband but might become more elusive in light of his legal issues. Wolkoff stated, “She’s going to keep her head low. She’s going only to do what she wants to do. She and Donald, I do not believe, are ever, ever going to part ways.”
If Melania Trump decides to maintain a limited presence in Washington, it would mark a significant departure from the typical role of the first lady. Generally, first ladies have been actively involved in public initiatives and served as a strong support system for the president. Melania, however, has always been more private, focusing on a few projects such as her “Be Best” campaign, aimed at promoting child welfare and combating cyberbullying.
There is also speculation that Melania might revive her “Be Best” campaign, which faced criticism for its limited impact during her first tenure. If she decides to resurrect it, it could potentially be backed by a larger, more qualified team to support her efforts.
The future of Melania Trump’s role in a potential second Trump administration is yet to be seen. The possibility of her dividing her time between Florida and New York, rather than becoming a full-time resident of the White House, hints at her desire to stay away from the political limelight and her husband. Her tentative presence in Washington, restricted mainly to ceremonial events, would mark a significant departure from the conventional expectations of a first lady’s involvement in White House affairs.
